Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens

[Juha]

Hello Paul
thanks for the summary of the Hampden achievements from Morozov's book.
It is also my impression that Leesee was the only success of the VVS SF Hampdens even if according to Hans Jürgen WITTHÖFT’s Die deutsche Handelsflotte 1939 – 1945. Band II (1971) it was sunk by bombs. I forgot to mention that the map in the RAAF in WWII Ch11 War at Sea Jan-Sept 42 p. 296 shows also the search patterns of the Catalinas of the 210 Sqn from 11th to 18th Sept 42.

Juha

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Juha

It is also my impression that Leesee was the only success of the VVS SF Hampdens even if according to Hans Jürgen WITTHÖFT’s Die deutsche Handelsflotte 1939 – 1945. Band II (1971) it was sunk by bombs. I forgot to mention that the map in the RAAF in WWII Ch11 War at Sea Jan-Sept 42 p. 296 shows also the search patterns of the Catalinas of the 210 Sqn from 11th to 18th Sept 42.

Juha

Hello Juha,

I can translate the description of the sinking of the Leesee, it is fairly definitive. Miroslav Morozov's book was published in 2011, so it has the advantage of 40 years of accumulated additional research over the Handelsflotte book.

The digitised Australian official histories are an interesting reference source, here is a link to the volume that you mentioned - https://www.awm.gov.au/histories/sec...HWW2/Air/Vol3/

I have found quite a bit of information about RAF Catalina operations related to convoy PQ 18, links are listed below for reference:

The Norwegian Catalina Mk.III FP525 (RAF Sqdn 330/Z, pilot Lt C.J.A. Stansburg) was shot down – this was not directly related to Catalina operations in Russia
http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1699.html

U-255 was heavily damaged by a 210 Squadron Catalina flown by Norm Langdon on 23 September
http://uboat.net/boats/u255.htm

Obituary for Les Langdon, Catalina pilot in the Pacific and Norm Langdon's brother
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obitua...423-zqy2i.html

Military service details of 210 Squadron Catalina pilot F/Lt Dennis Edward Healy DSO
http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/07732.php

Mention of Healy's success against a He 111 earlier in 1942, as well as his death in air combat in September. The crew shot down the reconnaisance Ju 88D-1 which attacked them.
http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/adventdalen.html

Obituary for Flight Lieutenant Ernest Schofield, Healy's navigator
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obit...Schofield.html

Book about the operations, co-written by Schofield and Roy Nesbit
Arctic Airmen: The RAF in Spitsbergen and North Russia, 1942 by Ernest Schofield, Roy Conyers Nesbit

Obituary for Air Commodore Jack Holmes, another pilot who served with 210 Squadron during Operation Orator
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obit...-obituary.html

Book about the convoy, PQ 18
Arctic victory: the story of convoy PQ 18 by Peter C. Smith

Book which mentions later operations in 1943
Catalina over Arctic Oceans: Anti-Submarine and Rescue Flying in World War II by John French

Regards,

Paul